Hello everyone! It’s me Sharon, and I’d love to share a special day out with my family.

 

My husband and I are both blind—I have a genetic disease, and my husband became blind due to nerve damage. Despite these challenges, we wanted to have children, and in 2020, we were blessed with a beautiful baby girl. Our daughter is now four years old, and while she didn’t choose to have visually impaired parents, we try to give her a normal, happy life.

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Getting Ready

Safety is always on our minds when we go out. We make sure to prepare thoroughly and ensure that wherever we’re going is safe and accessible. For example, before visiting Vredenheim, a wildlife sanctuary in Stellenbosch, we called ahead to check if it was suitable for us. They were incredibly friendly and welcoming, which made us feel confident about our visit.

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Our Family Adventure

Cape Town’s weather can be unpredictable, with heavy rains and winds, but we’re an adventurous family. On the day of our visit to Vredenheim, we geared up with raincoats and boots, only to find the sun shining when we arrived! We had a fantastic time at the big cat park, which is home to brown and white lions, a black leopard, an African leopard, and Bengal tigers. Even though my husband and I couldn’t see the animals, hearing the lions roar was thrilling. The joy of being together as a family is what matters most.

Our daughter especially loved the animal farm. She had a blast feeding the animals, although feeling a goat’s saliva on my hands was a bit gross! The staff at Vredenheim, including Frith and Kayla, were wonderful. They guided us around patiently and gave us an informative tour. We mostly had the place to ourselves because of the weather, making it a peaceful and enjoyable experience.

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Foodie Adventures

We all love food, especially our daughter. She’s a real foodie like her mom and enjoys everything from buffet breakfasts to afternoon teas, with sushi being her favorite. She even knows how to use chopsticks and often orders “fashion sandwiches” with confidence.

After our time with the animals, we had a delicious lunch at De Boerderijwinkel, an exclusive farm shop. The cozy atmosphere and tasty food were perfect for wrapping up our day. My husband and I enjoyed boerewors rolls with chips, while our daughter had a hotdog and chips, leaving only the roll behind. We finished our meal with a slice of delicious carrot cake, thanks to the kindness of Mary and Rochelle, who made sure we were comfortable and safely got into our Uber.

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Parenting

Being blind parents brings its own set of challenges and joys. While our daughter didn’t choose this life, we are dedicated to giving her a happy and fulfilling childhood. We want her to enjoy every moment without feeling like she has to take care of us. She’s a lively, happy four-year-old, and our job is to support and nurture her.

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We’re looking forward to more family adventures and making wonderful memories together. 

Kind Regards
Sharon